Apr 21 2008
Beat of Hawaii News Update:
Here’s our latest from the blue waters of the Pacific and our home base on Kauai:
1. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) adds new fuel surcharge.
The $9/day charge will average $120 per couple. With only one NCL ship left in Hawaii starting next month, the cost of their 7-day cruises have become staggering, given the cruise costs, fees, taxes and now fuel surcharges. I’m working on an in-depth post about Hawaii cruises and NCL Hawaii.
2. Hawaii Superferry adds a second Oahu to Maui trip starting May 9.
First, to catch their $39, sometimes stomach-churning, promotional fare, you’ll need to travel by June 5. The second sailing returns from Maui at night which we don’t recommend. I know I’d be seasick when it is choppy and I can’t see a thing. Anyway, the main advantage for visitors using Superferry is the ability to view Hawaii from our beautiful waters. Other questions remain, since they have been unable to fill even 20% of the first sailing’s capacity, and the promotional fare will soon nearly double.
3. Annual Hawaiian Monk Seal Count was held state-wide on Saturday. These seals have been around for 14 million years but are now declining in population. Monk Seal Mania reports that a pup was born on Rabbit Island off Oahu yesterday.
4. Two of our Hawaii Airports are adding new food options.
These additions will be most welcome. Some are upscale, while others don’t seem worthy of mention. At Maui, the food options have been pathetic, however, so even Burger King and Jamba Juice look pretty exciting to us.
At HNL/Honolulu:
- Dewar’s Clubhouse, a full-service American/European bar and grill. Now open.
- Gordon Biersch Restaurant Brewery, opening in May.
At OGG/Kahului (Maui):
- Sammy’s Bar & Grill (in partnership with Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar), opening in July.
- California Pizza Kitchen ASAP, opening in November.
- Jamba Juice, opening in November.
- Burger King, opening in November.
Mahalo nui loa for being a part of The Beat of Hawaii!
>Related Posts:
One more of those posts from Beat of Hawaii with useful information for our Hawaii visitors.
What I don’t get about the Superferry is that so many people get seasick. OK I get seasick on any kind of boat, small or big but wouldn’t one imagine that a bigger boat should be easier on the body than a whale watch boat for instance?
When I have to take a ferry somewhere, it helps not to look at the up and down moving horizon! Aloha, Pua